Rush by Eve Silver

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

My Review:

Had potential. But some things that I couldn't get over:

1. INSTALOVE. For some reason that isn't really explained, Miki immediately falls in love with Jackson. Like...literally the first time she sees him. Nope.

2. IT MAKES NO FREAKING SENSE. Besides the strange idea of being pulled into a video game that is actually real life, there were points in this book that drove my nuts (also the fact that this was never really explained...such as HOW?).
Ex.  Jackson wears sunglasses all the time. But somehow, Miki is able to read every expression he has. How can that be possible if he's hiding half his face?!

This book was just...I don't know. There was potential there, but this was just not good.

2/5 Stars

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.

Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

My Review:

WOW.

Killer aliens, a romance, kids fighting for their lives (but on their own!).  A vivid fantasy world was created in this book by Yancey, along with stellar characters.

I'm not even sure what to say about this book. It was amazing. Nothing I expected and better than I could have anticipated.  I really wish it hadn't taken me so long to pick this book up.  I had heard lots of hype but never took the time to see for myself.  And OMG now I understand why people are going nuts.

Right from the first page, I was hooked.  Yancey uses an interesting storytelling technique to describe the events of the previous waves.  We learn about them through other scenarios going on and memories and one of the main characters talks to us.

There were also multiple POVs in this book with different chapters.  I think this is what really tied the book together and made it what it was.  All the characters eventually have a connection and their stories all mix, giving us a complete picture of everything that went on in this post-apocalyptic world.  One of the main characters, Cassie, might be one of my favorite heroins.  She was strong, courageous, SMART, and also relate-able.  The other characters were also phenomenal and I seriously looked this book.

I need the second book STAT.

5/5 Stars

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same? 

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. 

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one. 

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

My Review:

Despite the rather lackluster cover, this is one of my new favorite dystopians book.  It had all the right element to really hold me interested.

I loved the idea of there being a test that participants must pass in order to "earn" their right to go to college.  Add to that the fact that the test is dangerous and people die, and you've good me hooked.

The characters were well-developed and surprisingly relate-able.  A nice romance developed without it overpowering the story or the action taking place.

If you like dystopians, you've got to at least give this book a shot!

5/5 Stars

Hot, Hot, Hot!

I'm practically dying waiting for The Young Elites to come out! This new book is supposedly a mix of X-Men, Assassin's Creed, and Game of Thrones...  Count me in!



The author, Maire Lu, has even done some illustrations of characters from the book and they look awesome!




I need this book NOW!!!  Read the awesome blurb below!

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.


Release date: October 7, 2014

BRB. Fangirling.

Cover of the Week!

This week's gorgeous cover goes to... Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins!



Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Looking for a good mystery, historical-fiction?  This is definitely for you!



His Fair Assassin #1

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Review:

First of all, I have to say I really enjoyed this book!  The concept of there being a school that teaches girls to become assassins and Masters of Death was super cool.  I loved the idea that they have to go through training on how to fight and make poisons.

The characters were very likable.  The heroine, Ismae, was not a dumb girl who constantly doubted herself and needed a man to care for her.  She was strong and courageous, which was good to see in a protagonist.  I was rooting for her and her eventual love interest, Duval, the whole time!  That romance and sexual tension was a nice addition to the book.

This was also something of a mystery shrouding the castle where Ismae works.  I figured out the traitor a little bit earlier than it was figured out in the book, but it was a good journey.

Overall, this was a good, fast paced, action-packed read!  The touch of romance and sexual tension made it all the more enjoyable.  Definitely will have to keep tabs on this series!

4/5 Stars  

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver is one of my favorite authors and when I read the spoof for this book, I knew I had to read it! (Review below)



Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

My Review:

Panic. What is it?! That's what drove me to pick this book up.

I read it in one sitting in about 4 hours. But even though I flew through it, there were some things that irked me. The only truly exciting moments of the book were when events of Panic were taking place. The rest of the time, I found myself just reading to get through it. Sometimes, names would come up that I could not put a background to. I felt like there was no connection with even the main characters. Overall, it was wrapped nicely (a little too nicely!). If you're looking for a quick read with some action, this could be it.

The premise of the book had a lot of promise, but I feel like it just didn't really deliver.

3/5 Stars